Practicing law as a registered foreign lawyer in Belgium

[rnc312]

My wife (U.S. & Irish citizenship) is looking into practicing law in Brussels. What is/are the language(s) are spoken in Belgian courts of law? My wife speaks English -- unfortunately is not familiar with speaking German or Dutch -- but she knows some French, though she is not currently fluent in French. (Obviously, she wants to master French over the next several years prior to our move -- and especially if that is a requirement of legal employment in Belgium.)

Perhaps it matters whether or not her employer (law firm) in Belgium is from an English-speaking country? Also, my understanding is she wouldn't actually be inside the court much if she became a solicitor there (if that makes a difference).

Thank you for your time.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

This is probably not the best forum to post such early stage questions. Belgium is a bi-lingual country - French and Flemish.

Did your wife study and get her law degree in Europe?

[rnc312]

You're right. I guess I'm thinking too far ahead. (I need to find an online expatriate fourm of foreign lawyers working in the E.U.)

My wife's Juris Doctorate of Law was earned in the U.S. As far as I know American lawyers are qualified to practice law in most locales in Belgium and would not have to pass the Brussels Bar Exam, for example.

I know English is widely spoken in Brussels, but is English acceptable in the local courts? My guess is no (except for English translators, for course). Perhaps, though, if my wife pursued a solicitor position -- or its equivalent in Belgium -- wherein she would be able advise clients outside of court maybe she wouldn't have fluent in either French, Flemish, or Dutch? (She wants to become fluent in French, but that is no easy task.)